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Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is characterized by persistent, excessive, and difficult-to-control worry. The Contrast Avoidance Model (CAM) proposes that individuals with GAD use worry to sustain…

Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is characterized by persistent, excessive, and difficult-to-control worry. The Contrast Avoidance Model (CAM) proposes that individuals with GAD use worry to sustain negative emotional arousal, thereby avoiding sharp negative emotional contrasts that would otherwise follow unexpected adverse events. A virtual reality (VR) protocol was developed to simulate such contrasts by alternating guided relaxation with brief anxiety-inducing scenarios (skyline plank, crowded elevator, and loose dog encounter). This study evaluated the usability and feasibility of this protocol in 20 subclinical adults aged 18–45 who met a screening threshold of GAD-7 ≥ 5, using a Meta Quest 3 headset and Polar H10 heart rate sensor. Exposure segments produced a significant decrease in RMSSD (β = −0.185, p < 0.001), consistent with reduced parasympathetic activity during exposure, whereas heart rate did not differ significantly between conditions. Subjectively, exposure increased SUDS (β = 2.23, p < 0.001) and SAM arousal (β = 1.95, p < 0.001), and decreased SAM valence (β = −2.68, p < 0.001) and dominance (β = −1.70, p = 0.005). Presence scores, cybersickness ratings, and qualitative feedback supported the usability of the protocol and identified concrete design refinements. These results support the feasibility of the protocol and provide a foundation for future controlled clinical evaluation.

This dataset contains aggregated prevalence estimates regarding cigarette smoking among adolescents in the Czech Republic, derived from three waves of the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBS…

This dataset contains aggregated prevalence estimates regarding cigarette smoking among adolescents in the Czech Republic, derived from three waves of the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) study conducted in 2014, 2018, and 2022. The data represents a total sample of 29,525 respondents (14,761 boys and 14,764 girls) across three target age groups: 11, 13, and 15 years old.

Objectives: Regular monitoring of health-related behaviours among vulnerable populations is of public health importance. This study examines recent trends in adolescent cigarette smoking in Czech…

Objectives: Regular monitoring of health-related behaviours among vulnerable populations is of public health importance. This study examines recent trends in adolescent cigarette smoking in Czechia following the marked changes reported in the mid-2010s.Methods: Data from three recent rounds of the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) study conducted in Czechia in 2014, 2018 and 2022 were analysed. Temporal trends were assessed for two indicators of adolescent cigarette use: lifetime cigarette use and cigarette use in the last 30 days. Survey-adjusted binary logistic regression models were used to test changes between survey periods. In 2022, the prevalence of electronic cigarette use was additionally estimated using the same indicators.Results: A continued decline in adolescent cigarette use was observed for both indicators, extending the downward trends reported in the mid-2010s into the 2020s. The decline was most pronounced between 2014 and 2018, with smaller but persistent decreases thereafter, particularly among older adolescents. However, the findings also highlight the substantial prevalence of electronic cigarette use. In 2022, more than one-third of 15-year-olds in Czechia reported lifetime electronic cigarette use (35.1% among boys and 36.6% among girls), and approximately one in five reported use in the last 30 days (19.6% among boys and 23.0% among girls).Conclusions: While conventional cigarette use among adolescents continues to decline, electronic cigarette use represents an important component of contemporary adolescent smoking-related behaviour. In the long term, the phenomenon of electronic cigarettes may counteract intended trends in nicotine-related harms. These findings underscore the need for continued surveillance and prevention efforts in Czechia that address both conventional and emerging smoking-related products.

Current research evaluating the consequences of stigma towards people with mental illness is not nuanced in emphasizing the critical distinction between stigma as negative attitudes and discrimination…

Current research evaluating the consequences of stigma towards people with mental illness is not nuanced in emphasizing the critical distinction between stigma as negative attitudes and discrimination as harmful behaviours that limit access to services, employment, and social inclusion. Understanding these distinctions is essential for designing targeted, evidence-based universal, targeted and indicated interventions to improve the quality of life and well-being. This review evaluates the evidence on the consequences of stigma towards people with mental illness. Using PRISMA guidelines, we analysed 448 studies (294 quantitative, 154 qualitative) investigating stigma's negative outcomes. Findings were categorized into health, service use, psychosocial, economic, and structural impacts. Although stigma is consistently associated with adverse outcomes across life domains, evidence of a causal link between negative attitudes and poorer outcomes for individuals with mental disorders remains limited. Furthermore, there is a striking scarcity of research from low- and middle-income countries, with significant regional gaps, and studies addressing structural stigma embedded in societal institutions are particularly rare. Efforts to combat stigma must distinguish between attitudes and behaviours, focusing on reducing discrimination while enhancing public mental health literacy and access to effective interventions. Tackling these challenges requires a comprehensive, evidence-informed approach to improving mental health outcomes for all.

The post-communist WHO European region, often called Central and Eastern Europe (CEE), includes 28 countries with over 770 million people. Mental health systems remain shaped by the communist legacy o…

The post-communist WHO European region, often called Central and Eastern Europe (CEE), includes 28 countries with over 770 million people. Mental health systems remain shaped by the communist legacy of centralized institutions, a narrow biomedical focus, and neglect of social and psychological dimensions. Chronic underfunding persists, further strained by shrinking civic space in some countries and the war in Ukraine. Substantial progress has been made in the past decade, with modernization and rights-based approaches gaining ground. Yet reforms face entrenched barriers: underinvestment disproportionate to the burden; pervasive stigma, weak advocacy, and limited involvement of people with lived experience; dominance of institutional care over prevention, promotion, and community services; reliance on donor-driven projects that falter once funding ends; and human resource problems. Governance is often unstable, with low prioritization, clientelism, and personal biases undermining reforms. Research and data remain scarce, leaving systems unevaluated and vulnerable to reversal. Poor decision-making compounds these barriers: systemic missteps, driven by limited expertise, weak evidence, and personal biases, prevent resources from achieving the best possible outcomes. To move forward, CEE must integrate health, social, and education systems, secure sustainable crisis services, strengthen professional skills, involve people with lived experience, expand public mental health expertise, and, above all, commit greater and more transparent investment, closer to western European levels, if resilient and effective systems are to be built.

Generalizovaná úzkostná porucha (GAD) se vyznačuje chronickými a nadměrnými obavami v různých aspektech každodenního života, včetně osobních a p…

Generalizovaná úzkostná porucha (GAD) se vyznačuje chronickými a nadměrnými obavami v různých aspektech každodenního života, včetně osobních a pracovních povinností, zdraví či mezilidských vztahů. Diagnostická kritéria procházejí mírnou úpravou při přechodu Mezinárodní klasifikace nemocí z verze 10 (MKN-10) na novou verzi, MKN-11. V našem článku se podíváme na změny v nové klasifikaci nemocí, která by se měla stát diagnostickým vodítkem v nadcházejících letech. Cílem tohoto článku je podrobněji prozkoumat charakteristiky generalizované úzkostné poruchy, její diagnostické výzvy a aktuální postupy v léčbě, včetně nejmodernějších přístupů. Léčba GAD obvykle zahrnuje farmakoterapii, psychoterapii nebo jejich kombinaci. Častými komplikacemi úspěšné léčby jsou vedlejší účinky léků nebo nedostatečná odpověď na léčbu až rezistence. Nadějí pro pacienty může být využití moderních technologií v léčbě generalizované úzkostné poruchy, jakými je například virtuální realita, kterou využíváme v našem centru Výzkumu virtuální reality v duševním zdraví a neurovědách v Národním ústavu duševního zdraví při léčbě úzkostných poruch, a to včetně GAD.   Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) is characterized by chronic and excessive worries across various aspects of daily life, including personal and work-related responsibilities, health, and interpersonal relationships. The diagnostic criteria undergo a slight modification with the transition from the 10th edition of the International classification of diseases (ICD-10) to the new version, ICD-11. This article examines the changes in the new classification, which is expected to become the diagnostic guideline in the coming years. The aim of this article is to explore in detail the characteristics of generalized anxiety disorder, its diagnostic challenges, and current treatment approaches, including the most modern techniques. GAD treatment typically involves pharmacotherapy, psychotherapy, or a combination of both. Common complications in the successful treatment of GAD include side effects of medications or insufficient response to treatment, including resistance. A promising approach for patients may be the use of modern technologies in the treatment of generalized anxiety disorder, such as virtual reality used at our Virtual reality research center for mental health and neurosciences at the National institute of mental health in the treatment of anxiety disorders, including GAD.

The data come from cross-sectional surveys conducted on representative samples of the non-institutionalised adult population in the Czech Republic in 2017, 2019 and 2022. The data include basic demogr…

The data come from cross-sectional surveys conducted on representative samples of the non-institutionalised adult population in the Czech Republic in 2017, 2019 and 2022. The data include basic demographic data and data from four questionnaires.  Data on mental health problems were assessed using the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (M.I.N.I.) in 2017 and 2022. The Self-identification of Mental Illness (SELF-I) scale was used to assess self-identification as having a mental illness in these years. Stigma associated with mental health was assessed using the Reported and Intended Behaviour Scale (RIBS) and the Community Attitudes towards Mental Illness (CAMI) scale in 2019 and 2022.   Data pocházejí z průřezových šetření provedených na reprezentativních vzorcích neinstitucionalizované dospělé populace v České republice v letech 2017, 2019 a 2022. Data zahrnují základní demografické údaje a údaje ze čtyř dotazníků. Údaje o problémech v oblasti duševního zdraví byly hodnoceny pomocí Mini mezinárodního neuropsychiatrického rozhovoru (M.I.N.I.) v letech 2017 a 2022. K posouzení sebeidentifikace jako osoby s duševním onemocněním byla v těchto letech použita škála Self-identification of Mental Illness (SELF-I). Stigmatizace spojená s duševním zdravím byla hodnocena pomocí škály Reported and Intended Behaviour Scale (RIBS) a škály Community Attitudes towards Mental Illness (CAMI) v letech 2019 a 2022.

Introduction The aim was to analyse mortality and estimate the life expectancy among people hospitalised for alcohol use disorders (AUD) compared with the general Czech population aged ≥20 y…

Introduction The aim was to analyse mortality and estimate the life expectancy among people hospitalised for alcohol use disorders (AUD) compared with the general Czech population aged ≥20 years. A temporal perspective on excess mortality was used, covering three recent calendar periods before and during the pandemic. Methods Three retrospective cohorts of the target population were constructed using registry-based data. The target population was defined as all adult patients (aged ≥20 years) admitted to the hospital for AUD (ICD-10 dg. of F10.x) between 2010 and 2021. Age-adjusted mortality rates and life expectancies were calculated for the comparative analysis. Official Czech mortality and vital statistics were used for the comparison. A Poisson log-linear regression model was used to test the effect of the pandemic period (2020–2021) on mortality in the AUD target population. Results At age 20, the estimated life expectancy of the AUD target was 21–27 years less than that of the Czech general population. Excess mortality was relatively highest in young people aged 20–34 years and in adults aged 35–49 years. During the pandemic period 2020–2021, mortality rates in the target AUD increased significantly. However, relative inequalities with the general Czech population did not change significantly. Discussion and Conclusions People hospitalised for AUD have much higher mortality rates, resulting in markedly reduced life expectancy. During the pandemic, their mortality rates increased even more. However, the increase was no greater than in the general Czech population.

 The Covid-19 pandemic and related social restrictions have been associated with increased rates of mental health problems, prompting a global surge in interest in mental well-being, which might …

 The Covid-19 pandemic and related social restrictions have been associated with increased rates of mental health problems, prompting a global surge in interest in mental well-being, which might have had a positive effect on population mental health literacy (MHL). We aimed to compare levels of mental health related stigma among the Czech general adult population before and after the Covid-19 pandemic, as well as recognition of own mental health problems, among those members of the general population who screened positively for mental disorders. Methods: We conducted a comprehensive analysis of multiple almost identically designed cross-sectional surveys carried out on representative samples of the non-institutionalized adult population in Czechia in 2017, 2019, and 2022. Mental health problems were assessed using the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (M.I.N.I.) in 2017 and 2022, while Self-identification of Mental Illness Scale (SELF-I) gauged self-recognition in 2017 and 2022. Mental health-related stigma was evaluated using the Reported and Intended Behaviour Scale (RIBS) and the Community Attitudes towards Mental Illness scale (CAMI) in 2019 and 2022. Results: Attitudes towards individuals with mental health problems exhibited no statistically significant change; however, reported and intended behaviours, i.e. proxies of social distance, changed for the better. Also, self-recognition of mental health problems demonstrated statistically significant improvements among those screening positive for depression, anxiety, and suicide risk, but not among alcohol use disorders. Conclusions: Population MHL remains low and recent positive changes are likely more attributable to the Covid-19 pandemic and related increase in interest in mental health than to deliberate efforts by government or state or other entities. This underscores the complex interplay between societal factors and mental health outcomes, warranting further exploration and reconsideration of public mental health strategies.

Over the past 25 years, the development of multi-user applications has seen significant advancements and challenges. The technological development in this field has emerged from simple chatrooms, thro…

Over the past 25 years, the development of multi-user applications has seen significant advancements and challenges. The technological development in this field has emerged from simple chatrooms, through videoconferencing tools to the crea-tion of complex, interactive, and often multisensory virtual worlds. These multi-user technologies have gradually found their way into mental health care, where they are used in both dyadic counselling and group interventions. However, some limitations in hardware capabilities, user experience designs, and scalability may have hindered the effectiveness of these applications. Objective: The present systematic review aimed at summarizing the progress made and the potential future directions in this field while evaluating various factors and perspectives relevant to remote multi-user interventions. Methods: The systematic review was performed based on Web of Science (WoS) and PubMed database search covering articles in the English language published from Jan-uary 1999 to March 2024 related to multi-user mental health interventions. Several inclusion and exclusion criteria were determined before and during the records screening process performed in several steps. Results: We have identified 49 records exploring the multi-user applications in mental health care, ranging from text-based interventions to interventions set in fully immer-sive environments. The number of publications exploring this topic is growing since 2015, with a large increase during COVID-19 pandemic. The majority of digital inter-ventions were delivered in a form of video-conferencing, with only a few implementing immersive environments. The studies utilized professional or peer supported group interventions or a combination of both approaches. The research studies targeted di-verse groups and topics, from nursing mothers to psychiatric disorders or various mi-nority groups. Most group sessions happened weekly, or in case of the peer-support groups, often with flexible schedule. Conclusions: We have identified many benefits to multi-user digital interventions for mental healthcare. These approaches provide distributed, always available and afford-able peer support that can be used to deliver necessary help to people living outside of areas where in-person interventions are easily available. While immersive virtual envi-ronments have become a common tool in many areas of psychiatric care, such as expo-sure therapy, our results suggest that this technology in multi-user settings is still in its early stages. Most identified studies investigated mainstream technologies, such as vid-eo conferencing or text-based support, substituting immersive experience for conven-ience and ease of use. While many studies discuss useful features of virtual environ-ments in group interventions, such as anonymity or stronger engagement with the group, we discuss persisting issues with these technologies, which currently prevent their full adoption.